TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



141 



Education. — In 1816, exclusive of the University, and 13 institutions 

 in the city wherein youth were educated, there were 144 schools. In- 

 cluding the public institutions, 16,799 scholars, of whom 6,516 were taught 

 gratis in charity or free schools. Several of these however attended 

 more than one school. In 1820 there were 106 Sunday schools, 158 

 teachers, 4,668 scholars, viz. boys 2,235, girls 2,433, besides 3 adult 

 schools, where there were 3 teachers, and 25 male and 54 female 

 scholars. Smce 1820 the number of Sunday schools has greatly in- 

 creased. 



River Clyde. — In 1653 the merchants of Glasgow had their shipping 

 harbour on the Ayrshire coast. This port being distant, and land-car- 

 riage expensive, the magistrates in 1658 negotiated with the magistrates 

 of Dumbarton for the purchase of ground for a harbour ; after some 

 discussion, the negotiation broke up, the authorities of Dumbarton con- 

 sidering that " the great influx of mariners would 7-aise the price of pro- 

 visions to the inhabitants." In 1662 the corporation of Glasgow pur- 

 chased ground and laid out the town of Port- Glasgow for their shipping 

 harbour, and in 1668 they built a small quay at the Broomielaw ; Mr. 

 John Golburn, civil engineer, inspected the river, and on the 30th 

 November 1 768 reported that it was in a state of nature, and that as far 

 down as Kilpatrick there were only two feet of water. In 1775 Mr. 

 Golburn had so far improved the navigation that vessels drawing six 

 feet water could come up to Glasgow at the height of a spring tide. 

 Less than 50 years ago gabbarts, and these only about 30 or 40 tons bur- 

 then, could come up to the city ; and Dr. Cleland recollects when for weeks 

 together not a vessel of any description was to be found at the port. The 

 increase of trade consequent on the improvements of the river almost 

 exceeds belief. By the year 1831 vessels drawing 13 feet 6 inches 

 ■water came up to the harbour ; and now large vessels, many of them up- 

 wards of 300 tons burthen, are to be found three deep along nearly the 

 whole length of the harbour. During the year 1834, about 27,000 

 vessels passed Renfrew ferry, and at some periods in that year between 

 20 and 30 in an hour. A few years ago the harbour was only 730 feet 

 long, and all on the north side of the river. It is now 1,260 feet long 

 on the south, and 3,340 on the north. There are four steam dredging 

 machines and two diving bells employed in deepening the harbour and 



